Biohazardous Waste

Biohazardous waste generated at UNH must be chemically disinfected, physically inactivated, or shipped off-site for incineration following procedures in the UNH Biohazardous Waste Disposal Plan.

Chemicals and radiologicals ARE NOT allowed in any biological waste stream. Contact the Hazardous Materials Manager or Radiation Safety Officer for guidance on disposal of these materials. 

Procedure Description

Medical Sharps & Contaminated Glass Disposal

Disposal Procedure

Medical sharps or glass that has been in contact with infectious materials:

  • Needles
  • Syringes
  • Scalpels
  • Razor blades
  • Microscope slides
  • Cover slips
  • Glass cuvettes
  • Capillary tubes

Uncontaminated Glass Disposal

Disposal Procedure

Glass that has been chemically disinfected:

  • Microscope slides
  • Cover slips
  • Glass cuvettes
  • Capillary tubes

Liquid Infectious Waste Disposal

Disposal Procedure

Liquid lab waste that is infectious or has been in contact with infectious material:

  • Cultures
  • Blood
  • Glass cuvettes
  • Bodily fluids
  • Cell culture media
  • Other liquid media (e.g. buffers, etc.)

Solid Infectious Waste Disposal

Disposal Procedure

Non-glass solid or semi-solid lab waste that is infectious or has been in contact with infectious material:

  • Plates
  • Tubes
  • Gloves
  • Paper
  • Serological pipettes
  • Pipette tips
  • USDA regulated soil/soil residue

If your biological waste does not fall into one of the categories listed above it may be disposed of in regular trash.

Related Information and Pages

View Hazardous Materials Management Knowledge Base

The Knowledge Base contains forms, instruction and training material, minutes, policies, tools and other resources to support your research efforts by topic area.


contact information 

Dana Buckley, Biological Safety Officer (BSO)
Phone: (603) 862-0197
Email: dana.buckely@unh.edu